Marvin Burton Cornish, Jr. begins his first year (2022-23) as the Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development at Morgan State University.
As part of the Bear's Athletics Leadership Team, Cornish's focus will be cultivating student-athlete's personal growth through character development, honing their decision making and leadership skills, encouraging mental health advocacy, and coaching them through their professional options at the conclusion of their athletic careers.
“I want to thank our Vice President and Athletic Director, Dena Freeman-Patton, Senior Associate Athletic Director Terrence Lollie, and the Student-Athlete Success Team for empowering me to fulfill my purpose of providing a holistic approach to serving our student-athlete's needs,” said Cornish. “My good friend and colleague, Dr. Candice Williams (Director, Mind Health & Wellness, Boston Celtics) says, “We have to put the person before the student and the athlete, otherwise we are at risk of losing all three.” I'm honored to assume the role of Assistant Athletic Director of Student-Athlete Development for Morgan State University Athletics to do just that".
Cornish's career encompasses a combined 31 years of Military (U.S. Army) and Federal Government (White House/Department of Veterans Affairs) leadership; as well as 11 seasons with the back-to-back-to-back (2018, 2019, 2021) Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association and 2021 HBCU National Champion Bowie State University Bulldogs football team as the Student-Athlete Development, Engagement & Wellness Coordinator.
During his tenure at Bowie State, Cornish was voted 2013 Athletic Department Volunteer of the Year after creating programming for and mentoring Bulldog Student-Athletes pursuing professional sports careers, transitioning out of sports, and those considering civilian, military and alternative careers. Cornish also created interactive and thought provoking lifestyle presentations that benefited not only Bulldog Student-Athletes, but hundreds of parents, coaches and student-athletes through USA Football, schools, universities and youth groups throughout the country. USA Football enlisted Cornish to write a blog on leadership and he continues to participate as a Player Scout for USA Football Regional and National Development Camps. As a follow-up to previous presentations, the "Bulldog Rookie Symposium" was created which introduced incoming freshmen to collegiate football as a Bowie State University Bulldog.
In 2020, Cornish began the "Bulldog Mental Wellness Initiative" in response to Bowie State University Student-Athlete’s athletic careers which came to an end or were put on hold due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The endeavor was created to educate the team on mental health support services and resources; as well as build advocates in reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness in the athletic and African American Communities.
To bolster the endeavor, Cornish became trained and certified in Crisis Incident Stress Management (CISM) and Psychological First Aid. On the academic side, he co-founded the Maryland Xi Chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma National Honor Society which is the first and only nonprofit organization created to recognize college student-athletes who excel both on and off the field of competition.
Cornish is the second of three generations to graduate from Bowie State ('86) and completed his Master’s Degree in Sports & Entertainment Management ('11) from Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida where in 2016, he was a featured Alum on Full Sail University's website.
Cornish is a professional member of the Alliance for Social Workers in Sports, a member of the National Coalition of Minority Football Coaches, the American Football Coaches Association, the Sports Executives Association, the Black Coaches and Administrators Association, and a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated.
An advocate of Servant Leadership, he is the lead quarterbacks coach for the Baltimore Ravens Youth Football Clinics. He contributed to the book, "Don't Should On Your Kids: Build Their Mental Toughness" by Dr. Rob Bell, was selected as a faculty member for the Institute of Personal Player Development by Founder, Dr. Mark Robinson and has partnered as a mentor to NFL players transitioning from the NFL into careers working with military veterans via the NFL Players Association's, "The Trust".
Cornish is married to Navy Veteran Dr. Tamika Cornish and share six children and four grandchildren.
